The auto industry can be a difficult but rewarding sector to work, but it can also be quite dangerous. New York auto workers have to rely on their employers to provide necessary safety equipment, training and other relevant information. Unfortunately, some auto manufacturers seem more focused on profits than worker safety.
Tesla, Inc. has allegedly been under-reporting its number of workplace injuries for years. In 2018, Tesla created an incomplete workplace injury summary by leaving out 4% of reported injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration — OSHA — says that the problem was even worse in 2016, when Tesla failed to include 44% of injuries in that year’s summary. This does not do much to help Tesla’s worker safety reputation, which is already one of the worst in the auto industry.
OSHA has conducted 45 safety inspections at various Tesla facilities, including three since the start of 2020. Most of the investigations concluded that the company violated workplace safety regulations, resulting in serious citations. The most recent inspection was conducted on March 2, 2020, indicating that this is not simply a problem of the past.
New York workers deserve a sense of safety and security at work — even those who work in traditionally dangerous industries. But whether through a company’s negligence or an unavoidable accident, someone who is injured at work also deserves the right kind of financial help. Workers’ compensation benefits can provide temporary compensation for things like lost income and medical bills, giving an injured worker time to focus on his or her recovery.